Why Researchers Don't Recommend Robot Lawnmowers, Suggest 'Safety Certificates' For Garden Gadgets?
Robot lawnmowers are not wildlife-friendly. Researchers have learned that they could injure hedgehogs.
Robot Lawnmowers Should Have 'Hedgehog Friendly' Certificates
Oxford University scientists conducted a study with garden gadgets like lawnmowers. They learned that many hedgehogs were killed or left injured from their encounter with robot lawnmowers.
The researchers said that many hedgehog rehabilitation centers have reported a significant increase in the number of hedgehog injuries caused by robotic lawnmowers.
Due to this, they suggest that lawnmowers be designed with "hedgehog friendly" certification. They wanted these robotic gadgets to turn away when they encountered hedgehogs as the latter's population was in serious decline for several reasons, including habitat loss, road traffic accidents, intensive agriculture, and injuries from dog bites and garden strimmers. Robotic lawnmowers have become the latest addition to the threats of the hedgehog community.
"There is an urgent need to identify and phase out models of robotic lawnmowers that pose a threat to hedgehogs," said Dr. Sophie Lund Rasmussen of Oxford University.
"Our new standardized safety test will greatly aid hedgehog conservation by enabling manufacturers of robotic lawnmowers to ensure their models are 'hedgehog friendly' before they are put on the market."
In a confined space, 50 hedgehogs were examined to see how they would react to a robotic lawnmower 50 cm away from them and disarmed (bladeless).
The hedgehogs responded to the lawnmower in three different ways: (1) they ran away from it, (2) stood stiff in front of it half-curled up, or (3) sniffed it curiously. Younger hedgehogs were reportedly bolder.
Fay Vass, Chief Executive at the British Hedgehog Preservation Society, was hoping the study would contribute to stopping or reducing the risk of robotic lawnmowers causing harm to hedgehogs.
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Cordless Robotic Lawnmower at CES 2024
With some unexpected new devices, the world's most influential electronics show, CES, got underway on Tuesday. The robot that can mow your lawn for you, Aiper's HorizonUI, is one of the highlights of CES 2024!
According to Aiper, the average American homeowner maintains their lawn for roughly 70 hours a year. Conventional push or ride-on manual lawnmowers are space-consuming, noisy, and have high gas consumption devices requiring much attention. With HorizonUI, the business hopes to eliminate lawn care completely from your list of things to do, not simply cut down on the amount of time you spend on it.
The Horizon U1 is a stylish, portable, cordless, and lightweight. Above all, it's made to cut grass mechanically in yards up to 32,000 square feet. The new robot will be equipped with state-of-the-art technology that enables the lawnmower to cut grass efficiently and rapidly, in addition to wireless mowing capabilities.
In Q1 2024, the software will be accessible. The Horizon U1 will go on sale on Aiper.com in Q3 of 2024.
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